For 95% of the players in the NHL, 12 points in 13 games would be
pretty respectable, if not incredible. For Alex Ovechkin, it’s an
increasingly worrisome slump. The NHL’s most exciting player has come
down to earth over the past month of hockey, with just three goals and
nine assists since February 7th. That night against the Penguins,
Ovechkin had a hat trick and four points. Since then, it’s been a bit
more….normal.

But
it goes without saying that for the Caps to have any success when it
matters, they’ll need Ovi to be the goal-scoring dynamo he’s known for
being; during their captain’s slump (which stands at 15 games for the
team), they’ve won eight games and lost seven (including four in the
shootout and one in overtime). For all the talk of how the Caps aren’t a
one-man team – and rest assured, they aren’t – there’s no question from
whom they take their lead.

Since Ovechkin’s ‘slump’
began, the Capitals have had nine of their 15 games go to overtime.
Their inability to close out games or maintain leads is certainly
concerning, and the inability of Ovechkin to find his magical scoring
touch is most likely a good reason for all of the extra hockey.

I’ve
said it before, but Ovechkin going through this down time now is good
for the Capitals in the long run. Now, if this continues into the
playoffs, well…Washington will be in some trouble.

ovechkin will be fine their playing 2 players on him and leaving other player open…wait til playoffs time come around…he shoot and scores

GRT8 - Mar 26, 2010 at 4:36 PM

Ovechkin really has been only above an average player last 10-15 games. After Campbell hit he has been more careful and not so reckless. I think people from Capitals has spoken with Ovie and about the style he plays especially in regular season. Capitals are winning games without Ovie’s goals so there’s no need to play over the egde end of regular season. But I think when Playoffs begin…the good old Ovie is back in the business

The East - Mar 26, 2010 at 8:42 PM

Dear Mr. Worley,
I would like to know what type of recreational drugs do you take?
And going forward, me and majority of the readers of this site would appreciate if you just refrained from any further comments on anything related to hockey.
Maybe you can concentrate more on resolving NHL coverage on local stations? Distracting Mr. Buttman from his business ideas would be a good exercise for your talent also.
Thank you.